Thanksgiving 2010

We went to Arkansas for Thanksgiving to be with our family. Judi and Terry planned a hayride for all the kids and they had a great time. Wednesday night Carson got sick and was sick on and off for the next few days. We stayed at our cabin on Thanksgiving and Jackie and I put together a little meal. I thought it turned out yummy! Carson started feeling better on Friday and he went hunting with Keith, Scott, and Cade. Carson shot his first duck and Cade killed his first buck. It was huge and he was very excited. My parents and grandpa came Friday and the kids got to ride the 4 wheeler Billy brought. Even though it was a quick trip we had a great time and hopefully everyone will stay well next time.

Football Season

Football practice started August 3 with 90 degree temps! Three months later the boys are playing in 30 degree weather. Carson is number 18 and Cade is number 12. Carson played linebacker and quarterback and really enjoyed the season. Cade played nose guard and safety and says he's not sure if he wants to play again next year. It has been a really long season and I am ready for it to be over. Four nights of practices and 2 games a week can be exhausting. I am ready to have family meals and to cook,which I never thought I would say!

Apple Picking in Chester, NJ

Today we decided to go apple picking after church. We had never been before so I was excited to see what it was all about. We got there and there was hayrides, corn maze, raspberry picking, and so much more. We chose to pick apples and raspberries. Cade just wanted to feed all the animals. They had bunnies, pigs, goats, cows, chickens, and horses.

Finally we got to pick the apples and it was interesting trying to decide what we wanted and how many and of course we had to sample many of them even though you were not supposed to everyone was doing it. PEER PRESSURE to eat apples!

We went home with about 30 pounds of apples. So, I decided to make 3 things with about 15 apples which still leaves me with about 28 apples. Crazy!! I made an apple pie, apple brown betty, and spice apple cake. All delicious but made a huge mess in my kitchen as you can see.

I do want to say that years ago my mother bought me an apple, peeler, corer and I probably used it once. Well, now I love it and will use it all the time for all the apples. I got the kitchen cleaned up and now am ready to relax.

I think when pumpkin picking comes around in a few weeks I will just carve the and no getting crazy trying to use them. Enjoy your fall ya'll!

Niagara Falls

We were lucky enough in August to use our passports for the first time and drive to Canada. We visited Niagara Falls which was beautiful and you have to see it for yourself to believe it. We also went to this little city on Lake Ontario. It was a neat little town and we took a horse and carriage ride around the town and then down to the lake. The falls were beautiful at night and the last day we walked on the bridge that splits Canada from the US. There is a picture of the kids standing one side on each. It was a great experience and I can't wait to visit Canada again. My children were obsessed with the Canadian money. They each had to have every coin plus a 5 dollar bill. We had to cut them off or we would be broke. Great memories. Now I have to talk Scott into taking me to Montreal!

Kinzi's First Car!!

Well, we have been shopping a while for Kinzi a car. It has not been fun. Long days and listening to salesmen try to tell you why their car is the best car for you. She finally got a Chevy Equinox on Wednesday. She was very excited. They had it waiting with a bow on it when we got there.

I know she is ready. If we would have stayed in Charlotte she would have been driving a year ago. We had an extra year not to worry. Now I will be praying constantly and waiting for her to arrive safely.

Oh, and one more thing. I just want to thank Scott for my pretty bow on my car too! Not really. I feel like something is wrong with this picture. My daughter and my husband have new cars and I'm driving a car with 205,000 miles on it and I have precious cargo! I'm just saying:-)

Amy and the boys come to visit!!

This summer has flown by. We have been lucky to be able to visit friends and family coming to visit us! Last week Amy, Jordan, and Jaxon came to visit us from South Dakota. We had a great week of visiting the city 4 days, traveling to the beach one day, driving to the Pancake House, and just shopping around.

The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and I was having fun just visiting with my sweet friend. The kids wanted to see all the NYC stuff so of course we trotted off to Central Park and ate at Mickey Mantles, then we hit Toys R Us and rode the ferris wheel and of course went to all 3 candy stores. One day we just drove to the city to ride the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty and then drove back home. Sunday we had a girl day where we went to see the Broadway show In the Heights with Jordan Sparks. It was great!

All good things have to come to an end so Monday morning we woke up to rain and drove to the city and went to Ripley's Believe It Or Not and then went to Dave and Busters which was a thrill for Cade because he has been begging to go there forever! So after all the fun we put Amy and the boys in their town car and off they went to the airport.

It's always sad to say good bye to our company but I know people will come back because everyone wants to visit NYC! We had a great time and can't wait for them to come back.

Happy 17th Birthday Kinzi!!

Today our sweet girl turned 17! I can't believe it. We are so blessed to have her as our daughter. We couldn't ask for more.

Kinzi had to cheer today so we thought we would try to do something this evening with her. We took her to Ruth Chris Steakhouse.(That is favorite) Scott gave her a purity ring for her birthday. She was very excited. Hopefully she won't date until she gets to college:-) I would be happy with that. Now we have to get a car which I am not looking forward to. I'm sure I will be doing a whole blog on my teenager driving! Happy Birthday Kinzi, Love You!

Family Comes to Visit!

We were so happy to have my brother and his family, plus my mom to come visit last week. We spent the week playing games, shopping and visiting New York City. The kids don't get to see each other very often so it was nice for them to be able to play together and for us to get to see our new nephew Miles. He is the most precious baby in the world!

The kids got to pick what we did so you will see we went to the M&M store, Madame Tussauds wax museum, Miles rode the subway for the first time, and we did a ton of walking! I'm so blessed with a wonderful family and glad we were able to spend some time together this summer. Miss you guys already.